There are plenty of fun places to eat in Sydney so be sure to bypass the dull ones and go straight to the top trendy restaurants in Sydney. Whether it’s for a first date, a friend’s birthday or just to branch out from your regular dining digs, we are here to help you find some of Sydney’s new cool restaurants.
It is a human instinct to love great food. And it is human nature to find great pleasure in exceptional dining. But it is easy to become jaded with eating out at the same places or feasting on the same type of cuisine. When it comes to the best restaurants, Sydney has a smorgasbord of options and we’ve curated a list of the 20 cool restaurants in Sydney you need to try.
Sixpenny
Stanmore might not be the first place you think of when it comes to venues that offer a sophisticated degustation meal, but it just goes to show there are cool restaurants all over Sydney.
Located on Percival Road, Sixpenny is a stylish restaurant that presents an innovative and contemporary Australian tasting menu which champions local, seasonal and ethically sourced homegrown produce.
Set within a chic dining space, this delightful venue offers excellent food and wine pairing, which you can enjoy in an ambience that is warm and relaxed.
Address: 83 Percival Road, Stanmore NSW 2048
Phone: (02) 9572 6666
Hours: Tue – Fri 6 – 9 pm, Sat 12 – 3 pm & 6:30 – 9 pm, Sun 12 – 3 pm
Mjolner
Undoubtedly one of the coolest restaurants in Sydney has to be Mjolner.
An institution in Redfern, this fabulous Scandinavian-designed restaurant might be a little hard to find for the first-time visitor as it is tucked away below ground level. But once you do find it you will be treated to an evening of gastronomic pleasures like you have never had before.
Taking the form of an avant-garde, medieval-style establishment that features Norse and Viking-inspired decor, the food here is exquisite. Think sumptuous rotisserie meats like chicken beef and pork, as well as delicious sides like crispy broccoli.
Add to that a delicious range of cocktails and the choice of over 400 whiskeys from around the world and you are sure to give your taste buds the ultimate treat.
Address: 267 Cleveland Street, Redfern NSW 2016
Phone: (02) 8646 4930
Hours: Mon – Sat 5 pm – 12 am, Sun 5 – 10 pm
Icebergs Dining Room and Bar
Offering one of the best restaurant views in Sydney, the Icebergs Dining Room and Bar is an awesome place to eat.
Priding itself on being a world-class modern Italian restaurant, it enjoys a stunning location nestled on the southern cliffs of Bondi Beach, right where the iconic ocean pool resides.
Known for their exceptional a la carte and tasting menus, Icebergs offer both hot and cold seafood platters that come that are bursting with freshness and flavour. While meat lovers will enjoy their signature 500-gram, grain fed, boneless rib eye.
Whatever you choose to eat, for an experience you will never forget, try and score yourself a table on the balcony, as the sun sets over Bondi.
Address: 1 Notts Avenue, Bondi Beach NSW 2026
Phone: (02) 9365 9000
Hours: Mon 12 pm – 12 am, Wed – Sat 12 pm – 12 am, Sun 12 – 10 pm
Bennelong
Located right in the heart of the Sydney Opera House, there can be few venues in Sydney more cooler to dine at than Bennelong.
Run by the legendary Head Chef, Peter Gilmore, diners here are whisked away on a gastronomic journey that showcases some of Australia’s most quintessential cuisine.
Another venue that is known for its terrific atmosphere, this is the perfect destination to come for a meal either before or after a performance.
Its small a la carte menu is offered across three separate dining levels and features such scintillating dishes as Maremma duck, Sicilian-style ravioli and lamb short loin.
All of this can be enjoyed with a drop from its curated wine list, as you take in stunning views of the Sydney Harbour.
Address: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9240 8000
Hours: Mon – Wed 5:30 – 9 pm, Thu 12 – 2 pm & 5:30 – 10 pm, Fri – Sat 12 – 2 pm & 5 – 10 pm, Sun 12 – 2 pm & 5:30 – 9 pm
Porteño
Bringing the flavours of Argentina to Surry Hills, Porteño is one of Sydney’s best South American-inspired restaurants.
Run by chefs Elvis Abrahanowicz and Ben Milgate, this classy venue is set within a vintage-style, low-lit room that boasts comfortable leather sofas.
Designed for sharing, they offer an authentic menu of succulent meat dishes that are prepared on a traditional barbecue (called a Parilla in Argentina) and a pit of fire (Asado), from an open kitchen, which all guests can see.
While the service might be a little slower than at other venues, if you believe that good things come to those who wait, then you’ll be in for a real treat here.
Address: 50 Holt Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 8399 1440
Hours: Tue – Sat 6 – 11 pm
Bea
The flagship restaurant at Barangaroo House, Bea ticks all the boxes.
Not only does it offer stunning waterfront views, it also offers a terrific menu of high quality Australian fare that has been curated by Head Chef Cory Campbell.
It is also set within a fabulous building that features a stunning Art Deco-inspired design and boasts an extensive list of fine wines too.
While the menu changes regularly, it always features a contemporary range of dishes that are beautifully plated and served to you by wait staff who are consummate professionals.
As it can get busy here, it is a good idea to book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Address: 1/35 Barangaroo Ave, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 8587 5400
Hours: Wed 5 – 9 pm, Thur – Sat 12 – 9 pm, Sun 12 – 1:30 pm
Restaurant Hubert
If you are the kind of person who loves eating out a lot then be sure to add Restaurant Hubert to your list.
Situated on Bligh Street, within the heart of the CBD, this chic venue is known for its warm mood lighting, cosy booth seating, ambient music and stylish decor.
Specialising in upscale French cuisine, the food menu is overseen by the highly talented Daniel Pepperell. It features lots of classics like escargot, prime beef tartare and Duck à l’Orange, which are so authentic, you’ll forget you are in Sydney.
The drinks menu is equally as impressive, including a great range of Cognacs, Martini, champagne and an international, artisanal wine list that is as rich as it is diverse.
Address: 15 Bligh Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9232 0881
Hours: Mon – Wed & Sat 5 pm – 1 am, Thur – Fri 12 pm – 1 am
Fred’s
Over in Paddington, Fred’s has been wowing locals and tourists alike for several years now with its wonderful gastronomic offerings.
Situated on Oxford Street, the venue feels a bit like a rustic country home, in that it is very warm and inviting.
Its food menu is a tip of the hat to sustainable produce and those who farm it. Created around seasonality, it fuses invention and creativity with old-world cooking techniques.
The magic happens on free-standing Tuscan grills, as well as a custom-made hearth, which ensures the produce is elevating to levels few other restaurants in Sydney can match.
Overseen by Head Chef Danielle Alvarez, the menu changes every day here. But whatever you have the choice of ordering, you can rest assured you will be given something truly spectacular, in a fun and congenial venue that is a joy to dine in.
Address: 380 Oxford Street, Paddington NSW 2021
Phone: (02) 9114 7331
Hours: Wed – Fri 12 – 11 pm, Sat 8 am – 11 am & 12 – 11 pm, Sun 12 – 10 pm
Mr Wong
Mr Wong is one of the most fun and engaging restaurants in Sydney.
Nestled in the heart of the CBD, it offers diners a massive range of options to choose from.
Boasting pretty much every style of dim sum filling you may possibly think of, they also serve up an excellent range of other signature dishes too.
Whether you choose the crispy eggplant, duck spring rolls or Hong Kong style wok-fried rice noodles, this restaurant allows your taste buds to travel around the whole region of Southern China in just a couple of hours.
You’ll even get to do this with a soundtrack of jazz music while you eat.
Address: 3 Bridge Ln, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9114 7317
Hours: Sun – Wed 12 – 3 pm & 5:30 – 9 pm, Thu – Fri 12 – 3 pm & 5:30 – 11 pm, Sat 12 – 3 pm & 5 – 11 pm
Olio
If you find yourself hungry and are looking for somewhere to really enjoy a hearty meal then Olio in Chippendale is a terrific place to visit.
Specialising in Sicilian fare, the restaurant is unique in that every one of their dishes uses olive oil that derives from the family farm of Head Chef Lino Sauro – which is based in Sicily.
Renowned for its wonderful seafood dishes, the restaurant is located in the Old Rum Store. Whilst here, make a point of trying the Green Bay lobster, as well as the blue-eyed cod.
Alternatively, you might like to try its six-course degustation meal.
Address: 2/2/10 Kensington St, Chippendale NSW 2008
Phone: (02) 9281 1500
Hours: Tue – Fri 5:30 – 10 pm, Sat 12 – 3 pm & 5:30 – 10 pm, Sun 12 – 8:30 pm
Alberto’s Lounge
Not content with his work at Restaurant Hubert, the widely acclaimed Dan Pepperell also runs a very successful Italian operation called Alberto’s Lounge as well.
Widely regarded as serving up some of the best modern Italian food available in Sydney, this bustling trattoria provides diners with an unforgettable fine dining experience.
With its ricotta and gelato made every day, this venue is serious about its cuisine, with many of its dishes being created either through its pasta machine or robata grill.
Standout dishes include the gnocchi cacio e pepe and ragù d’anatra alla veneta. While the wine list features labels from some of the most accomplished vintners in the world including Josko Gravner and Arianna Occhipinti.
Address: 17-19 Alberta St, Sydney NSW 2000
Hours: Mon – Sun 5 pm – 12 am
10 William Street
You’ll never have trouble remembering the address of 10 William Street, as that is exactly where it is situated!
Another popular restaurant in Paddington, this exceptional Italian bistro spans two levels and is known for its delicious pasta dishes that come in huge serving sizes.
The kind of place where you will want to wear loose-fitting clothes, the beef, pappardelle and cavolo nero, as well as the beurre bosc, blue cheese and kohlrabi, are very popular.
If you can, try and snag a table downstairs, where the atmosphere is great and the space is perfect for people watching.
Address: 10 William Street, Paddington NSW 2021
Phone: (02) 9360 3310
Hours: Wed – Thu 5 pm – 12 am, Fri – Sat 12 pm – 12 am
LP’s Quality Meats
If you love meat, then there are few cooler restaurants in Sydney to indulge this passion than at LP’s Quality Meats.
Overseen by Luke Powell, who wears two hats as an owner and the head chef, this venue serves up a delicious selection of different meat cuts that are produced on a smoker that was imported from Tennessee.
Having the curing and smoking of meat down to a fine art, the food here will make your taste buds sing. Great for sharing, the parsley and pecorino sausage is not short of sensational, while the pork belly will blow you away too.
Despite its name, vegetarians don’t need to miss out, as the restaurant also offers up a wonderful range of fish dishes too.
Address: 16/12 Chippen St, Chippendale NSW 2008
Phone: (02) 8399 0929
Hours: Sat – Sun 10 am – 6 pm
Firedoor
If you are a fan of the Netflix TV show Chef’s Table, you may have seen the episode on Firedoor. But if you didn’t see it, then you are in for a real treat.
Offering a complete menu of dishes entirely made by wood-fire, Head Chef Lennox Hastie runs one of the coolest restaurants in Sydney.
Renowned for its fantastic service, the restaurant showcases the best in local and seasonal produce. But what takes the food to elevated levels is the intriguing range of woods and coals that are used to cook it.
Designed to enhance the ingredient’s natural characteristics, the restaurant presents a different menu every day. On any given visit you might be able to order Margra lamb or Bundarra pork.
But whatever choices you are given, they come in massive, lumberjack-style portion sizes. So you definitely won’t go home hungry.
Address: 23-33 Mary Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 8204 0800
Hours: Wed – Sat 5:30 – 9 pm
Pino’s Vino e Cucina
If you don’t have any Italian friends who have a nonna or nonno to dish up incredible and authentic Italian food, then your best bet is to head to Pino’s Vino e Cucina.
You’ll find it in Alexandria, at an intimate and romantic venue that features timber decor, relaxing music and a wonderful ambience.
Offering innovative and comforting Italian dishes that are created with love and flair, the menu will spoil you for choice. A must try is the charred octopus, while the carnaroli risotto is exquisite too.
The premium wine also offers plenty of fantastic options, while the beer list is very good too.
Address: 199 Lawrence Street, Alexandria NSW 2015
Phone: (02) 9550 2789
Hours: Wed – Sat 5:30 – 11:30 pm, Sun 5:30 – 10 pm
Ester
Another excellent restaurant in Chippendale to visit dine at is Ester.
Set within a concrete-walled space with minimalist decor, it serves up some of the most innovative culinary delights in Sydney.
Some of the menu items you can treat your taste buds to include extraordinary dishes like sugarloaf cabbage, twice-cooked quail and buffalo curd pie. Much of which is cooked in a wood-fired oven.
If you can save room for dessert (or if you want to jump straight to it!) be sure to try the amazing sourdough ice cream too.
Address: 46-52 Meagher Street, Chippendale NSW 2008
Phone: (02) 8068 8279
Hours: Tue – Fri 6 – 11 pm, Sat 12 – 3 pm & 6 – 11 pm
Continental Deli Bar Bistro
Concluding our list of the coolest restaurants in Sydney is the Continental Deli Bar Bistro.
Located over in Newtown, this funky venue serves up delicious charcuterie boards in a hip space that oozes style.
Specialising in contemporary Mediterranean cuisine the food offered here is spectacular.
It’s available in a set menu, bistro menu or lunch menu format and includes everything from roasted Lamb Rump and rémoulade to steak tartare and bratwurst.
Address: 210 Australia Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Phone: (02) 8624 3131
Hours: Mon – Sun 12 pm – 12 am